Case Number 22101

SECRET SUNSHINE (BLU-RAY) CRITERION COLLECTION

The Charge

A stirring and unpredictable work examining grief and deliverance.

Opening Statement

"How can you believe in something you can't see. I don't even believe in
some things I can see."

Facts of the Case

Shin-ae (Jeon Do-yeon, The Housemaid) and her young son Jun (Seon
Jung-yeop) have just moved to Miryang, her late husband's hometown. The people
of Miryang are generally welcoming and kind-hearted, particularly the slightly
love struck Jong Chan (Song Kang-ho, The Host). Slowly but surely,
Shin-ae begins to adapt to her new surroundings and begins making friends.
However, after a series of unexpected and horrifying developments, Shin-ae's
life goes into a rapid tailspin.

The Evidence

If the plot description I've provided sounds a little vague, it's because
Secret Sunshine's construction puts reviewers such as myself in a
difficult position. It holds off on delivering the film's pivotal plot point
long enough to make it a spoiler if I were to reveal what happens in this
review, and yet that moment more or less defines where the film goes for the
remaining two-thirds of its running time. As such, I feel obliged to proceed
with caution for the remainder of the review. Here's the main thing you need to
know: Secret Sunshine is a superb film and well worth your time.

Lee Chang-dong's nuanced drama contains numerous moments of unflinching
darkness, but it's remarkable to observe the manner in which the film refuses to
allow its darker moments overwhelm the mood. The obvious approach would have
been to shroud this story in gloom, but Chang-dong maintains a fascinating
balance between bleakness and warmth. The film never loses its gentle sense of
humor, its glimmer of hope or its understated tenderness; yet it firmly refuses
to gloss over its moments of wrenching despair. To be sure, the contrast is an
impressive tonal feat of filmmaking, but it's also a quietly perfect mirror of
the themes Secret Sunshine addresses. The film is a portrait of the
struggle for grace during tragedy, and an examination of the lengths we are
willing to go to counteract the mighty forces of grief.

Miryang is largely a Christian town, and it doesn't take long before someone
asks Shin-ae whether she's accepted Jesus Christ as her savior. Shin-ae is an
atheist (or at least an agonistic) and politely turns down invitations to church
on a regular basis, but her when tragedy strikes she finds her belief in
disbelief more than a little shaken. She attends a church service, is intensely
moved by the experience and impulsively surrenders her life to God.

American viewers may be surprised to discover what a familiar brand of faith
is on display throughout the film. The church services are nearly identical to
what you'll find in many protestant churches in the United States, from the
familiar praise songs ("You Are My All in All") to the earnest piano
music used during the alter call to the distinctively amiable atmosphere.
Chang-dong presents the members of the church as generally good-hearted,
well-intentioned people who have determined to actually follow the teachings of
Christ and love their neighbors.

There have certainly been other films made from an agnostic/atheistic
viewpoint that have explored the notion of religious faith as a necessary
delusion (Leon Morin, Priest and The Invention of Lying come to
mind), but Secret Sunshine addresses this notion more effectively than
any other I've seen. There's an undeniable appeal to being part of a church
family; particularly for a lonely, grieving person. By joining the church,
Shin-ae finds an endless supply of support and encouragement, the promise of a
supernatural being who cares for her deeply and a sense of inclusion that aids
her immeasurably.

Christianity has an undeniably positive effect on Shin-ae in the beginning,
but things get complicated when she decides to really tackle one of that
religion's primary tenets: love thy enemy. Shin-ae has determined that she will
visit a prison and forgive a man who has done an unforgivable thing. The other
members of the church are astonished by her courage and her willingness to
actually make an attempt to follow one of Christ's most challenging admonitions.
However, when Shin-ae tells the imprisoned monster of her decision to forgive
him, the man happily informs her that he has already asked for and received
forgiveness from God. The notion fills Shin-ae with rage and confusion: how
could God just forgive this man and make her difficult decision a moot point?
How dare this man have the audacity to believe that even the most horrific of
sins could be so easily dismissed?

Jeon Do-yeon's performance is astonishing to behold, as she turns in a
striking companion piece to her excellent work in The Housemaid (another
story of a young woman's slow unraveling). She takes the character to some
hellish places effectively without approaching overacting, and turns portions of
Shin-ae's journey that might have seemed unlikely into entirely understandable
actions. The other key performance comes from Song Kang-ho, whose good-hearted,
bumbling nature and unrequited feelings for Shin-ae serves as touching
counterpoint to Shin-ae's journey. He is so in love with her that he's even
willing to start going to church when she converts to Christianity, leading to
an amusing scene in which Shin-ae questions the legitimacy of Jong's faith.

Secret Sunshine arrives on Blu-ray boasting a superb 1080p/2.33:1
transfer. Chang-dong continues to demonstrate his skills on a visual level,
offering a host of indelible images that can be fully appreciated thanks to this
beautiful transfer. Detail is superb throughout, allowing viewers to appreciate
every symbolic touch and design nuance. Flesh tones are warm and natural, while
blacks are deep and inky. Colors are bright and vibrant throughout, too. This is
a spectacular-looking disc. Audio is similarly excellent, though the track is
quite low-key much of the time. This is definitely a dialogue-driven track, and
everything is crystal-clear in that department. The striking score (which is
used very sparingly) comes through with strength and sound design is effectively
complex when it needs to be. Supplements are limited but worthwhile: a 25-minute
interview with Chang-dong, a 7-minute behind-the-scenes piece, a trailer and a
booklet featuring an essay by Dennis Lim.

Closing Statement

South Korea has produced some of the finest films of recent years, and
Secret Sunshine is another powerful example of the exceptional filmmaking
we're seeing from that country. Criterion's Blu-ray release looks and sounds
gorgeous, even if it is a little light on supplements. Highly recommended.